Finding out your child was injured in an accident can be an overwhelming experience regardless of how mild the injury may be. When someone else’s recklessness causes your child to get hurt, you can hold them liable with the help of our League City child injury lawyers. Once retained, our compassionate personal injury attorneys will help you build a strong case for compensation and incorporate your child’s past and future losses into a comprehensive settlement demand – only proceeding to litigation in court if absolutely necessary.
Time Limits on Child Injury Settlement Negotiations
Fortunately, the statute of limitations applicable to civil claims in League City has an exception for victims of personal injuries who are under the age of 18. Adults injured in any kind of accident have only two years to either negotiate a private settlement or file a lawsuit in civil court against the party they believe to be responsible for their injuries.
However, in the event of a child injury, the filing period doesn’t begin until the child in question is no longer a minor. This is because a person under 18 is considered “legally disabled” under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.001, and any time during which a prospective plaintiff is disabled is not counted against the limitations period for their potential case.
This statutory deadline extension applies regardless of how old a child is when they become injured and allows a parent to pursue compensation on their child’s behalf or for the child to do so themselves once they reach the age of majority. Regardless of these legal nuances, it is best to retain a League City child injury attorney and get settlement negotiations started before evidence is lost and witnesses forget what they saw.
Who Could Be Liable for a Child’s Injuries?
There are many situations where an adult can be held civilly liable for a child’s injuries. For example, a child who is too young to understand the dangers of an unsupervised swimming pool or piece of construction equipment may unwittingly trespass on private property.
In those cases, the property owner could be held liable for injuries that the child sustains as a result of an “attractive nuisance” based on their failure to secure their property and prevent trespassing. If applicable, one of the attorneys at Haines Law can help parents seek compensation from negligent landowners based on this legal doctrine for the harm their child suffered.
Work with Our League City Child Injury Lawyers
Between physical harm, financial losses, and emotional anguish, a child getting hurt is often a multifaceted nightmare for parents. If your family has encountered this kind of situation, you can benefit from the professional legal advocacy that our firm offers. We could help you recover current and future damages as well.
Our League City child injury lawyers can help you seek a settlement to cover past and future medical expenses, future diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. Call Haines Law today to learn what our seasoned attorneys can do for you.